Simone Biles stands up for herself and her sport, again

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 19: Simone Biles performs her floor exercise during day four of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships 2018 at TD Garden on August 19, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

Photo: Tim Bradbury, Staff / Getty Images

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, who Saturday was critical of a tweet in which new USA Gymnastics CEO and former congresswoman Mary Bono mixed politics with sports, said Monday the two should remain separate issues as USA Gymnastics works to repairs its tattered public image.

Biles, 21, of Spring reacted strongly to a tweet in which Bono, a Republican who served 15 years in Congress, appeared to be critical of Nike’s relationship with activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick by showing someone inking out the logo on a Nike golf shoe.

Biles wrote on Twitter, “Don't worry, it’s not like we needed a smarter USA Gymnastics president or any sponsors or anything.”

Elaborating on her comment during a Monday conference call, Biles, who has a Nike endorsement contract, said, “Being a Nike athlete, you have to stand up your brand.”

She added, “You kind of have to stand up for what you believe in. Gymnastics is already political enough, so I don’t want to bring American politics into it, which is hard enough, especially (with) trying to find a new (USA Gymnastics) president and all that.”

“You try not to bring (in) the politics because we’re (USA Gymnastics) not sitting very well as of now and we’re trying to bring that (reputation) up.”

USA Gymnastics has endured months of organizational turmoil in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, the subsequent resignation of its entire board of directors and the recent resignation under fire of CEO Kerry Perry.

Bono, who also tweeted #BoycottNike in a response to her original tweet, subsequently deleted the tweet that caught Biles’ attention.

“I regret the post and respect everyone's views (and) fundamental right to express them,” Bono tweeted. “This doesn't reflect how I will approach my position @USAGym. I will do everything I can to help build, w the community, an open, safe (and) positive environment.”

USA Gymnastics’ board of directors said it reviewed Bono’s background and social media activity but did not note the Nike tweet, which it described as an “Oversight.”

“We are disappointed about the tweet and Mary has expressed regret in posting it,” the board said. “We support Mary and her ability to help us move forward in the interim period.

“As members of the Olympic movement, USA Gymnastics supports everyone’s right to freedom of expression, and we're committed to an inclusive, safe and positive culture for our sport.”

Biles’ comments on the Bono tweet were the latest example of her increased activism as an observer and critic of USA Gymnastics since returning to training last fall after a year’s absence.

She also was critical of Perry’s decision to limit public comment on the federation’s future outside of answering questions before congressional committees investigating the Nassar scandal.

Biles in January acknowledged she was among those who were abused under the guise of medical care by Nassar, who is serving the equivalent of a life prison sentence for possession of child pornography and sexual abuse of current and former gymnasts.

She also expressed concerns about returning to the Karolyi Ranch, the longtime training center for the U.S. women’s team in the Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville, and USA Gymnastics promptly canceled its agreement to use the facility owned by former national team coordinators Bela and Martha Karolyi.

Monday’s call was scheduled to coincide with the upcoming International Gymnastics Federation world championships in Doha, Qatar. Biles qualified for the team last week during a selection camp in Sarasota, Fla., and in the process unveiled a new vault that has never been attempted in competition by a woman.

The vault adds an extra half-twist to the vault she performed during the Olympic event final in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Named for Chinese gold medalist Cheng Fei, Biles’ vault includes a roundoff — similar to a cartwheel — approach to the vaulting table followed by a half turn and, after hitting the table, two full twists in the air before a blind landing facing away from the table.

If she performs it at the world championships, it will be named in her honor.

“I’ve been working really hard at it for the past couple of months,” she said. “I’m pretty excited to go ahead and hopefully compete it at Doha.”

Biles will be joined on the world team traveling squad by 2017 world champion Morgan Hurd of Middletown, Del.; Kara Eaker of Grain Valley, Mo.; Grace McCallum of Isanti, Minn.; Riley McCusker of Brielle, N.J.; and Ragan Smith of Lewisville. One of the six will be an alternate.

David Barron reports on sports media, college football and Olympic sports for the Houston Chronicle. He joined the Houston Chronicle in 1990 after stints at the Dallas bureau of United Press International (1984-90), the Waco Tribune-Herald (1978-84) and the Tyler Morning Telegraph (1975-78). He has been a contributor to Dave Campbell's Texas Football since 1980, serving as high school editor from 1984 through 2000 and as Managing Editor from 1990 through 2004. A native of Tyler, he is a graduate of John Tyler High School, Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Austin.

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